RANCHO SANTA FE — Suzanne Roy, middle school principal of the Rancho Santa Fe School and member of the National Advisory Board, recently hosted other members from the National Advisory Board as well as members from the Principals’ Center at Harvard for a three-day event. The theme was “Partnerships to Enhance Education” and provided board members with insight into some of the outstanding examples of education found in San Diego County.
Members visited the Rancho Santa Fe School District to learn more about partnerships such as the recent “Hearts for Healing” project, which was done in conjunction with Scripps Hospital in Encinitas. They also visited Canyon Crest Academy in the San Dieguito Union High School District to observe its Envision program.
The Principals’ Center is dedicated to the personal and professional development of school leaders who influence the quality of a school. Programs and services offer school leaders the chance to acquire new perspectives on leadership, engage in personal reflection and develop professional networks.
The National Advisory Board represents school leaders from a variety of settings: urban, suburban, public, charter and independent. Board members from both organizations work together to help identify current and future trends in education. The boards usually meet three times a year — twice in Cambridge, Mass., and once for an off-site event. This year the off-site spotlight was on San Diego County.
“The board members were impressed with the partnerships we have with the RSF Foundation and with the project we did recently with Scripps in Encinitas,” Roy said. “Most importantly, they were impressed with our students. The kids gave them a tour of the campus. They were so confident. So positive. The board members were impressed with the ownership they took in learning. They were cultivating their own voices.”
Roy looks forward to doing more programs with the National Advisory Board in the future, including working with schools in Albuquerque and Detroit. “It’s been a great experience,” she said.
previous post
